of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



xxxi 



ever recorded for this class of fish, exceeding the previous best — 

 registered in 1911 — by £16,809, or slightly over 5 per cent. Although 

 there was so little difference in quantity, the proportions attributable 

 to trawling and net and line fishing respectively differ considerably, 

 the trawl catch having increased from 136,743 cwts. to 143,544 cwts., 

 while the catch by fine and net fell from 65,299 cwts. to 59,342 cwts. 

 A more detailed examination of the returns further shows that the 

 quantity would have shown a considerable deficit but for a greatly 

 improved catch of whitches, as, with the single exception of megrims, 

 which show a slight increase, every other species shows a decline. 



Halibut. 



The largest contributor to the flat-fish supply was halibut, which, 

 with a total of 48,945 cwts., valued at £111,549, as compared with 

 49,696 cwts. and £107,795 in 1912, deprived plaice of the leading 

 position. There was thus a falling off in quantity of 751 cwts., which, 

 from the fishermen's point of view, was more than compensated for 

 by an increase in value of £3754. Steam liners, by whom the bulk 

 of the halibut is taken, found this fish appreciably scarcer in most of 

 the areas frequented, and their contribution fell from 36,453 cwts. to 

 31,784 cwts., but the falling off in the catch of these vessels was largely 

 counterbalanced by the greater success met with by trawlers, who 

 landed 14,809 cwts., or 4363 cwts. more than in 1912. 



Plaice. 



As indicated above, plaice, in point of quantity, has for the first 

 time lost its position at the head of the flat fish returns. The catch 

 amounted to 46,160 cwts., valued at £71,601, as against 50,238 cwts. 

 and £69,697 in 1912 ; here also a decrease in quantity having been 

 accompanied by an increase in value. About three-fourths of the 

 quantity and value were attributable to trawled fish, the actual figures 

 being 30,804 cwts. and £55,033, or 4842 cwts. and £1147 less than in 

 1912. The catch by line, which amounted to 10,378 cwts., also fell 

 off to the extent of 783 cwts., although the value, which was £10,501, 

 was greater by £771. On the other hand, net-fishing for plaice was 

 prosecuted much more successfully than in 1912, the quantity so 

 taken being 4978 cwts., valued at £6067, as against 3431 cwts., and 

 £3787 in the former year. 



It is interesting to note that the proportion of small plaice in the 

 total catch landed at Aberdeen was smaller than for several years 

 past. For 1913 it was 22*7 per cent., as against 24*6 per cent, in 1912, 

 and 25-5 in 1911. 



Lemon Soles. 



This species is taken almost exclusively by trawlers, and during 

 the year under review these vessels landed all but 574 cwts. of the 

 total catch of 36,696 cwts., which fell short of the preceding year's 

 return by 4122 cwts. The decline did not, however, extend to the 

 value, which indeed shows a slight increase, the figures for 1913 and 

 1912 being respectively £83,472 and £83,413. 



Flounders. 



The quantity of flounders landed in 1913 was 8239 cwts., valued at 

 £5525, as compared with 9729 cwts. and £5742 in 1912, this species 



